The Vikings Don’t Need to Pay Jalen Nailor
The Vikings have some major decisions to make this offseason across the roster.
Major moves will be made on the contracts of players like T.J. Hockenson, Ryan Kelly, and Jonathan Allen, amongst others. Even big names like Justin Jefferson and Byron Murphy Jr. could see their big deals restructured. It’s also safe to assume that running back Aaron Jones, who is on the books for $14 million in 2026, has likely played his final game as a Minnesota Viking, at least on that cap hit.
One of the storylines that flies a bit more under the radar is the situation at WR3. There is buzz about the Vikings and whether or not they would actually trade 2023 first-round selection Jordan Addison, where the more likely departure comes in the spot behind him.
Vikings WR Jalen Nailor Facing a Date with the Open Market in March
Nailor, who will be 27 one week before the NFL’s “legal tampering” window opens on March 9th, needs a re-up on his deal if he wants to remain a Minnesota Viking.
It’s hard to imagine the Vikings will want to pay that much of a price for Nailor, who, realistically, is a replaceable player. It’s not an insult to Nailor, as most WR3s can have that label; that’s why they’re a WR3. Nailor may have a slight glimpse of WR2 upside, but if the Vikings are to roll forward with Jordan Addison as WR2, that glimpse will never turn into reality in the Twin Cities.
If you don’t think Nailor will command a decent-sized contract (and by decent, we’re talking over $10 million in average annual salary), consider another unrestricted free agent this March, Dyami Brown.
Brown was drafted in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft by Washington, known at the time as the now-iconic “Football Team”. The former UNC standout only lasted through the 2024 season with Washington, and only totaled 784 receiving yards over 63 games played in that span. Jalen Nailor, for reference, has 858 receiving yards in just the last two seasons with the Vikings.
Dyami Brown, after falling out of favor in Washington with poor production, signed a contract before the 2025 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. What was the average-annual-value of that contract, you ask? $10 million. It’s not hard to imagine that Nailor can get $10 million, if not more, annually out of a receiver-needy team somewhere else in the NFL.
Potential WR3 Options Are Aplenty for the Vikings
There are plenty of cheaper WR3 options that could provide the same (or potentially exceed) the production of Jalen Nailor.
Tutu Atwell is a personal favorite of mine as a fit for the Vikings. The former 57th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams spent that season with offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell. Atwell has never been a stat-sheet stuffer and only appeared in 10 games in 2025, hauling in only 6 catches for 192 yards. This could lead to his price being driven down in free agency negotiations.
This is before we even consider the 2026 NFL Draft. A couple of prospects that I like in the mid-rounds are Notre Dame WR Malachi Fields and Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II. These gentlemen are both at least 6’4, and could provide a different kind of receiver to the Vikings’ offense.
Fields or Brazzell II are bigger-body receivers that would be best-deployed as a boundary receiver in most sets opposite of Justin Jefferson. This would open Jordan Addison to cook in the slot. Even if they wanted to go the Atwell route, he is someone that could step right into the Nailor role while providing more upside for gadget plays as Brandon Powell did.
